Projectable antenna



Dec. 26, 1944 l H. G. LEHMANN PROJECTABLE ANTENNA 14, 1939 2 Sheets-Shedl l Filed sept INVENTOR Y rb'crt Le/rm 1111 VX ATTORNEYS Dec. 26, 1944. H, G, LEHMANN PROJECTABLE ANTENNA ,m 5 7 n i N 9 L A l.. i.

lNvENroR #erbe/4f G. [1c/1m 1m' ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 26, 1944 UNITED STATES lPATENT AOFFICE PROJECTABLE ANTENNA Herbert G. Lehmann, Wood-Ridge, N. J., assigni, or to Casco Products Corporation, Bridgeport, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application September 14, 1939,l Serial No. 294,839

11 Claims. (Cil. Z50-33) This invention relates to an antenna structure, and, more particularly, to an adjustable antenna to be used exteriorly of a motor vehicle equipped with a radio receiving set.

The advent of the so-called all-metal top vehicle necessitated the adoption of antennas different from that commonly used with the soft or canvas topped vehicles. I

The-antenna most commonly used before the advent of the steel top vehicle was a screen or reticulated plate of conducting material carried' Within the car just beneath the canvas top. Ihis antenna could not be used with the allmetal top vehicle, for the metallic top shielded the antenna, and, consequently, the same Was not effective.

Numerous antenna structures have been proposed Which were adapted to be carried exteriorly of the vehicle, and, although some of these prior antenna structures could be used successfully, they generally were unsightly devices which detracted from the appearance of the.-

vehicle to which they were attached.

An antenna has been devised and successfully developed which does not detract from the appearance of the vehicle and this has consisted of an elongate telescoping staff adapted to be clamped to a portion of the vehicle so as to extend vertically upward therefrom. This antenna is generally mounted on the side of'the vehicle adjacent the driving compartment of the same so that the driver can, by reaching through the opened Window adjacent his position, manually adjust the position of the sections of the antenna.

It is necessary to adjust the telescoping sections for the capacity of the antenna dependsk upon the relative positions of the same. It has been found that the antenna, when extended to its full limit, served admirably as an antenna,

but, yet it could be easily broken if the vehicle I tenna to be extended or contracted. `These sections when contracted are carried within a suitable housing mounted within the body, but yet are adapted to be extended to a position Where they project vertically upward fromthe body of the vehicle.

A control device is preferably employed to extend or lower the sections at the Will of the driver and without the necessity of reaching through the open Window to manually grasp the sections to pull them down on push them up when it is desired to extend or contract the antenna. In the form of the invention illustrated, the control device takes the form of a small electric kmotor driving a storage drum for a length of iiexible wire having one end secured to the uppermost section of the antenna. A switch is included in the motor circuit so that the rotation of the motor may be drectionally controlled so that the motor when rotated in one direc- 'tion will cause the wire to be Wound upon the drum, thereby pulling the telescoping sections into their contracted position, but when rotated in the opposite'direction causing the Wire to un- Wind from the reel and push the telescoping sections to' some desired extended position.

A driver ofthe vehicle to which a device of the present invention is attached, may, by se- `lective manipulation of the switch which preferably is located at some convenient location adjacent the driver, cause the motor to rotate in either one or the other direction and cause the antenna to be either extended or contracted-A depending upon the direction of rotation of the motor.

A friction clutch forming a part of the driving means for the drum prevents the motor from driving the same after the limits of movement of the telescoping sections of the antenna have been reached. This obviates the possibility of the wire breaking or jamming if, through inadvertence, the switch was held in one of its alternate positions for a time longer than was necessary tov cause the antenna to extend or contract.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

'In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the device partly in section. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view ofv the *extensible antenna.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of the gear mechanism taken along line 3-3 Aof Fig. l.'

Fig. 4 is an end view of the casing and nipple With the casing partly in section.

Fig. 5l is a longitudinal sectional view of the nipple ,and the connection of the antenna thereto.

receiving the staff when collapsed and the motor I 2 which drives the wire storage drum I3 for adjusting the sections of the collapsible stai I0.

The staff I comprises, referring now particularly to Fig. 2, a plurality of successively reduced telescoping tubular sections I4 of conducting material. The staff may be extended or contracted by merely moving the plurality of sections relative to one another.

To prevent the sections from separating when fully extended, a lug I5, suitably secured within the bore of each relative movable section at the lower end thereof, is provided with an enlarged skirt I6 having a sliding fit within the bore of the'next successively larger section. Each section, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, is reduced as at I1 to form an annular shoulder I8 of a smaller diameter than the skirt I6. The shoulder I8 forms la `stop means for limiting the extending movement of each section and prevents the same from separating.

To insure good conductivity between the sections and to prevent the sections from collapsing when extended, each skirt is slotted forming a plurality of fingers 29 each having a bearing surface in engagement with the internal surface of the section within which it is received. The bearing surfaces are urged into good frictional engagement with the internal surface, for the lingers are compressed when inserted into the bore.

The staff, preferably, is mounted on the vehicle so that it may project vertically upward therefrom when extended. The staff, as shown, referring now to Fig. l, is secured to the vehicle by means of the housing II preferably mounted so as to be hidden from View and Wholly housing the staff when the same is collapsed.

The housing includes a bushing 2I sleeving the upper end of the lowermost or largest section of the staff. The bore of the bushing is restricted adjacent the upper end thereof forming a downwardly facing shoulder 22 against which seats the shoulder formed by the reduction of this section. The section is thus held against any upward vertical movement.

The staff is inserted through a suitable opening formed in the cowl 23 and is insulated therefrom by means of a washer 24 having a perimetrical slot which receives the defining edges of the opening through the cowl. A nut 25, threaded onto lthe upper endv of the bushing, clamps a collar 26, of some suitable insulating material disposed about the projecting end of the same, against the washer 24. A similar collar 21 is clamped against the other face of the washer 24 by the nut 28 threaded onto the Opposite end of the bushing. y

A band 29 of some suitable insulating material is slipped over the lower end of the bushing 2 I and receives a metallic cylinder 30. The lower end of the cylinder is provided with an internally threaded ring 3I into which is threaded a nipple 32 forming a part of the casing which houses the gear train and storage drum. A nut 33 is also threaded-onto the nipple and is turned up until it engages the lower end of the cylinder 30 to clamp the same securely between `the-nut 33 and the band 29. The lower extremity of the largest section is seated on a block of insulating material 34 within the nipple 32 and a washer 35 of some nonconducting material surrounds the lower en'd of the section and insulates the same from the nipple 32.

It Will be seen that the collapsible staff is rmly and insulatedly supported to the metallic wall of thel cowl in such a manner that when the staff is extended it will project substantially vertically upward from the vehicle.

To extend or collapse the staff, the motor I2, which is mounted preferably to the dashboard of the vehicle by any suitable means such as the bracket 36, drives the reel or storage drum I3. The reel or drum is driven by the motor through a suitable gear train which includes the pinion 38 insulatedly carried by the motor shaft and meshing with a gear 39 loosely carried by the shaft 40 rotationally secured at one end to a bearing of some suitable insulating material carried by the wall 4I of the drum casing and supported at the opposite end by the bracket 42 insulatedly supported on the wall 4| and extending into the drum casing. The gear 39 is provided with a friction surface 43 held in engagement withfthe friction face of a disk 44 carried by the shaft 40. The disk 44 has formed with it a pinion 45 meshing with a gear 46 rotatably carried by a stub shaft 41. xed at one end to the bracket 42. The gear 46 in turn meshes with an internal circular rack 48 carried by a dishshaped member49. The dish-shaped member 49 is suitably secured as by spot welding to the storage drum.

The drum I3 comprises a disk-like member having the marginal edges bent back to form the flange 5I. Secured to one face of the drum is a circular plate 52 also having a flange 53, which flange forms with the flange 5I a storage compartment for housing a length of flexible wire 54.

The drum and plate are provided with a centrally located aperture which takes a bushing 55 which is xed to a short shaft 56 rotatably supported at one end by a thrust bearing 51 fixed to the bracket 42 which takes any thrust exerted by the shaft 56. The shaft is rotatably supported at the end opposite the bracket in a bearsleeve 64 to the outer face of the bearing member 58.

The sleeve is formed at the outer end with a bayonet slotl or the like for-receiving the end of a conductor wire 65 leading to the radio receiving set. The conductor wire 65 is provided with a contact 66 engagingv a spring urged contact 61. The spring l68 which holds the contact 61 in engagement with the contact 66 seats on a small pin 69 carried'by the bearing' which is normally urged into .engagement with the end i of the shaft 56.

The pin V69r is eccentrically mounted in the block relative to the shaft 56 and has Va wiping engagement with the shaft as the shaft rotates. The cup or sleeve 64,which houses the contacts 66 and 61 andthe spring, 68,:carres an insulat.-

, extremity thereof.

ng sleeveso. that the contacts are completely in-" sulated from the sleeve` 64. y

The length of conductible flexible wire 54 has one end secured to the drum and is fed through the annular opening 8| formed bythe adjacent edges of the nanges l and 53 and then through a passageway through theY insulating material 34 and up through the multiple sections of the staff and is secured at the opposite end to a band 10 carried by the uppermost section adjacent the A suitable ornament 'H may be threaded into the band 10 to assist in securing the end of the wire to the band, as well as to serve as an ornament for the staff.V i

The radio signals are gathered by the sections'` of the collapsible staff, and, bymeans of the wire 54, are carried to the metallic drum structure which is completely insulatedfrom the vehicle and `from the metallic drum structure tothe' shaft 56, pin 69, spring 68, contacts 61 and 66 and then to the radio receiving set. Thepin 69, as, itv is eccentrically insulated relative to the shaft 56, has a wiping engagement with the shaft of the eld circuit.` The movable contact 'l5 is connected toa source of current 19, such as the usual storage battery of the vehicle by a wire 8D. The contact 15, when moved to the left as viewed in Figx, will close the gap between the same and 13 and a circuit will be completed through the field circuit such as to cause rotation of the motor. If the contact is moved to the right, as viewed in Fig. 6, a circuit will be again closed through the eld circuit but the current will 'be reversed so Athat the motor will rotate in the opposite direction.

It will be seen that when to one of its alternate on positions, the motor will rotate in one direction or the other depending upon which alternate on position to which the switch has been moved. Rotation of the motor shaft drives the pinion 38 in mesh withthe gear 39 and the engagement of the two friction surfacescauses rotation of the pinion meshing with the gear 46 which in turn drives the rackV 48 carried by the dish-shaped member 49' secured to the `drum I3. The rotation of the drum causes the `wire to either wind thereonor be unwound therefrom, depending upon the direction of rotation of the drum. l

If the drum is rotated in a direction to wind the wire thereon, the antenna will be lowered and if the direction of rotation is in the opposite direction, the wire will be expelled from the drum and will urge the sections of the antenna upwardly.

The operating arm of the switch, in the preferred form of the invention, is manually held in either of the alternate on positions, and to obviate any damage to the antenna, the gear train or motor, if the switch is allowed to remain in either one of the two on positions for a time longer than is necessary to completely contract or extend the antenna, the friction surfaces will the shaft l the switch is moved' slip', therebyobviating ing4 mechanism.

The slippage of the friction clutch surface will also apprise th'e operator that the antenna has been fully extended or fully contracted, and he can then remove his ngers from the operating lever of the` switch so that it may return to the off.position.

It will be seen, therefore, that the present invention provides a' convenient means for extendingland contracting the telescoping antenna and obviatesA the diiiculties heretofore, encountered through the useiof this type of antenna.

Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of this invention and portions ofthe improvements may be used without others. YI claim:

1. An antenna structure for vehicles comprising vertically extensible sections of conductible material; and means for extending or contracting saidsections, said means including a flexible wire and 1a storage reel for the same, the reel having a slot in the side thereof through which the wire passes to and from the same and said wire being so arranged relative to said extensible sections that the same pushes the sections to a selected extended position when unwound from said reel and pulls the sections to a lowered position when wound on the reel.

2."A collapsible antennastructure comprising a plurality of telescoping elements of conducting material; elongate fiexible means mounted in said telescoping elements and having one end thereof fixed to the uppermost element; storage means lforsaiol elongate flexible means; means associated with said storage means for causing the elongate flexible means to be stored within said means or be removed therefrom, the elongate flexible means. causing said telescoping elements to contract when the iexiblev means is stored within the storage means and to extend when the elongate exible means is removed from said storage means and means integral with the storage meansto prevent binding of the flexible means passing to and fromthe storage means.

3. An antenna structure for vehicles comprising telescoping sections ofl conductible material; a length of iiexible wire having one end secured to theupper extremity of the uppermost section and` extending down through said sections; a flanged reel to which the opposite end of the wire is secured and having a continuous slot in a ange thereof through which the wire passes, said wire adapted to bewound upon and unwound from said reel; and means for rotating said reel in one of two directions to wind or unwind said wire, the winding of the wire upon the reel collapsing said sections and the unwinding of the wire extending said sections. y

4. An antenna structure for vehicles comprising telescoping sectionsr of `conductible material; a length of flexible wire having one end secured to the upper extremity of the uppermost section and extending down through said sections; a reel to which the opposite end of the wire is secured, the reel having means formed thereon for preventing binding of the wire passing to and from the reel, said wire adapted to be wound upon andunwound from said reel; and means including a motor and a gear train for rotating said reel lapsing said sections and the unwinding of the wire extending said sections.

any Vdamage to the driv- 5. A collapsible antenna structure a plurality of telescoping elements .of conducting material and forming when extended anelonga'te stati, means for attaching the vlowermost fof said elements to a portion of 'a vehicle; a flexible wire mounted in said sections 'and .having 'one end secured to the top of the staff; Yand "a reel'to which the other end of the wire is secured,"said reel having a closed periphery and "one side Wall comprising a pair of sections inclined outwardly toward one another with the sections spaced at the outer edges to form a slot .through 'which the wire passes to the reel, the wire being adapted to -be wound upon said reel when the same is rotated in one direction to collapse the elementsand tov secured, said reel being associated with the heusing and having a continuous .slot .-in one flange communicating with the opening in the slot and adapted upon rotation in one direction to ywind the wire thereon and to unwind the same therefrom upon rotation in the opposite direction, the Winding of the wire upon the reel collapsing said sections and the unwinding of the wire from the reel extending said sections and the vcooperating portions of the housing and `reel preventing jamming of the wire during passage to and from the reel.

7. In an antenna structure for' vehicles comprising vertical extensible sections of conducting'v material; a flexible wire; a storage vreel for said wire, said reel having a closed ,periphery and a continuous slot in the side thereof through which the Wire passes, said wire being so arranged .relative to said extensible sections that the same pushes the sections to a selected extended position when unwound from said reel and pulls the section to said lower position when woundon the reel; and means controlled by the driver of said vehicle for causing the wire to be wound upon and unwound from said reel.

8. In an antenna structure for vehicles comprising telescoping sections of `conducting mate rial; a length of fiexiblewire having one end se-` cured to the upper extremityof the uppermost section and extending down through .all ofsaidfy sections; a reel to which the `opposite end of Ithe Wire is secured, said reel having .means thereon for preventing binding'of the wire passing 'to and from the reel; means yfor 'rotating said reel lin one of two directions to wind or unwind said Wire; a gear train for causing rotation of lthe reel; -`an electric `motor for driving said gear train; and switch means for .reversing the direction of rotation o'f the motor so that the direction of .rotation of the reel may be reversed vto either wind the wire upon or unwind the same from said reel, the

winding of the wire upon the rreel collapsingsaid sections and the unwinding of the wire extending saidsections.

9. An antenna structure for vehicles equipped with a radio receiving set comprising telescopinz sections of conductible material; alength of flexible wire having one end secured to the upper extremity of the uppermost section vand extending down through vsaid sections; la reel of conducting material to which the opposite end of the wire is secured, said wire adapted to be wound upon and unwound from said reel, said reel being insulated from said vehicle; means including a wiping contact oisei-l from the axis of the reel for electrically connecting the reel to said receiving set.; and means including a motor and a gear train for rotating ysaid reel in one of two directions to wind or unwind said wire, the winding of the wire upon the reel collapsing said sections and the unwinding of the wire extending said sections.

l0. In an extensible antenna assembly adapted to be mounted on a motor vehicle, an extensible radio signal-carrying member mounted on said vehicle for extension and retraction with respect thereto, a ilexible actuating member secured to said extensible member, a reel adapted to receivev said flexible member and by its rotation cause said ilexible member to extend or retract said extensible member and means carried by and rotatable with said .reel to prevent binding between the exible member on said reel and a stationary part of said assembly.

11. A collapsible antenna structure comprising a-plurality of telescoping elements of conducting material; elongate exible means mounted in said telescoping elements and having one end thereof xed to the uppermost; element; ,a reel for said elongate flexible means; means connected to the reel to rotate theY salme for causing the elongate ilexible means to be stored on the reel or be removed from the reel, the elongate flexible means causing .said telescoping elements to contract when the flexible means is Woundon the reel and to extend when the elongate flexible means is unwound from the reel; and means integral With the reel to prevent binding of the flexible means passing to and from the reel.

. HERBERT G. LEHMANN. 

